SRAM shifters with Shimano mechs (road)

[jamiebae]

Would this work?

My bike has 11 speed 105 front and rear mechs and shifters, but I'm struggling with the shifters and want to go back to SRAM (or Di2) as I'm struggling with the fact I can't brake and downshift at the same time.

Can I swap the 105 levers out for some Force or Red 22 versions, or are the pull ratios different? The plan is to upgrade the whole lot eventually, but if I can do the shifters first that makes it a bit easier on the wallet.

Brakes (I assume) are fine so I could use the 105 versions for a while yet - I have a friend running Ultegra brakes on Apex levers with no problems.

[jamiebae]

So Google says it won't work.

SRAM and Shimano use different cable pull ratios so although the cassette, chainset and chain can be used the front and rear mechs can't.

Looks like the wallet is going to take a battering...

[Ponk]

I ran Ultegra 6800 brakes with Force shifters last year. No dramas and good braking but they feel much better with 6800 levers now.

I can't stand brake levers moving either! It's just horrid.

[upsidedownmark]

Brakes you can mix with off brand levers, but no, the shifters / mechs aren't interchangeable.

Not sure how sram would change anything, but if it worked for you previously, so be it. Personally I'm pretty sure I don't brake and downshift at the same time..

[jamiebae]

upsidedownmark said:

Brakes you can mix with off brand levers, but no, the shifters / mechs aren't interchangeable.

Not sure how sram would change anything, but if it worked for you previously, so be it. Personally I'm pretty sure I don't brake and downshift at the same time..

I brake and downshift at the same time a lot - if I'm descending and coming up to a hairpin bend I need to brake and downshift so I can accelerate out the other side. I find that when I'm pulling on the lever it's almost impossible to then flick it sideways under tension so I find myself having to release the front brake a bit to allow me to shift.

In 18 months of using SRAM Force I never had this issue, it may be because I've picked up bad habits but it works for me!

[TonyHetherington]

I run campag and find myself braking and downshifting quite a bit; maybe it's just because I always have had campag and so am used to it, but would find it weird doing something else now I think!